Air and dust cap for pneumatic tires



June 26,1923. 11,460,355 w A. K. HINCHMAN AIR AND DUST CAP FOR PNEUMATIC TIRES Filed Jag. 2o. 1922 gli Alu@ K. HinciNrvrEzNgRn WITNmI Patented L.lune 26, 1923.

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ALVA K. HINCHMAN, OF PHILADELPHA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSGNOR ONE-HALETO RIE!CYINALI)V M. ADAMS, OE PHILADELPHIA. PENNSYLVANIA.

AIR AND DUST CAP EUR PNEMATC TIRES.

Application filed January 20, 1922. Serial No. 530,649. u

To all 'io/tom t may Concern.' A

Be it known that I, ALvA la. HINCHMAN,

a citizen of the United lStates, 'residing atl Thisinvention relates to valvesfor pneumatic tires and ithas for its primary object to provide a combined air and dust proof cap therefor which is fool-proof, the same,`

being easily applied or removed without the necessity'of' employing a"wrench or other analogous tool. r

vide an air and dust cap for pneumatic tires which may be provided with-or without-an air gauge, thereby-,eliminating the prevailing separate air cap, separate dust cap, and separate gauge and nut.

A further objectofthis'invention is to provide a device of the character outlined above whereby loss of parts is saved and a great deal of labor trouble and the like is entirely' done away with. n

With the foregoing. and other essentially in the novel featuresof construction, combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafterfully `described and moreV particularly defined bythe subjoined claims." In thel further disclosure of the inventionn reference is to be had to 'the accompanying sheet of explanator 1 drawings constituting a part of this specification, and in` which` like characters of reference designate the same or corresponding elements in the sev* eral views.

Figure 1 is a fragmentary elevation of a pneumatic tire showing one forni of my im-y v'proved air and gdust cap .with .attac-hed' gauge applied to the valve thereof.

to an "enlarged scale of a slightly modified forniof the invention.

Figure 3 is a* similar sectional view of another forni of myv invention.`

cap shown by 'Figurel butwith the air gauge removed. f i,

Another object of this invention is to proi Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view v to afford a suitable grip whereby an opera- Figure 4L' is an enlarged' longitudinal sec-v tional view of the `formof my air vand vdust i Figure 5 is a sectional detail of a lock-nut-l hereinafter more particularly referred to.

Figure (5 is an underside plan view of the lock-nut shown in Figure 3.

Figurel 'i' is a `section through the valve stem showing the flattened sides thereof for a purpose later on explained. l

Figure 8 is an elevation of a cock hereinafter more specifically referred to; and,

Figure 9 is a detail` of a spiral spring, the use and application whereof will later on pe more particularly defined. s

`lieferung more particularly to the views the numeral l0 characterizes a fragmentary part of a vehicle wheel rim, 11 the/tire carriedthereby and from which extends the usual valve stem 12 by means of which the tire is iniiated, whilstfafrag'mentarypart of` apair of the spokes are designated by the numeral 13, all of the aforesaid parts beingfbrieiiy referred rto for a clearer un-` derstanding ofmy invention now to be `described. u n

In carrying out my4 said invention I employ a main body cap or tubular shell 14 u u y that is formed somewhat elongated as shown, y l `objects in view as will become more apparent from the following description my invention-consists and as will be seen withrespectto Figures 1, 2 and 4, it isvprovided at itsupperpart` with a reduced part or neck .15, whereas in the form `illustrated by Figure Sthe upper end is closed `inhemispherical `fashion at 16.

Slidably fitting within the aforesaid reduced partsorneclr portions 15 is a rod or spindle 17 `fashioned atr itsy lower end with u that the lower end of the tubularshell 1.1i is formed with an integral enlargedbasal part or flange 22 likewise knurled or milled so as torfmay turn said shell 14. in either direction. Still further it is to `be noted that' the underface of the flange 22 is `provided with` propriately bedded therein ra lea-ther or,

other appropriate material concentl'oally thereinto by screwed neck portion or Vshoulder 25. It is also to be noted in connec tion with this ligure that the bell-like por tion 18 is supported axially in the tubular shell 14 bv an expansible 'or similar spring `26. 4`Still/.further bythis form of my invention it will be noted that there provided what may be termed a quick application form for valve stems having` ti'at sides as shown at 27, in Figure 7',i'n that the lock nut 22 is provided with' la threaded 28 ot the same diameterV asthat of'thefvalve stem 12 and diametrically cut out rectangular'i'iotches 29. Thus it will be 'readily seen more particularly :from Figure 6 that when the valve stem 12 is in the position indicated bythe dotted line a in said'figure the tubularl shell 14 canlie readily slipped or slid'thereover, whereupon a halt turn will` result in. thelocling of the parts smartly togtherl., e

lIn Figure 5 it will be observed that the lock-nut 22 is fitted ya friction litfat into theA lower end of the tubular shell '14.

Referring once Aagain more speciiifcally to 'i Figure 4 of the drawings it will be seen that the rod or spindle 17 is axially counterbored A from the bells'haped end 18 to provide two boring'fs J31, 32 the latter serving as abearingf `for the reduced 83 ot` a Apin valve R4/"of ay length toeXtendI downwards into the bellllileportion 18 yfor a purpose later on explained.V collar and a headSG areI formed o'n the pin valve '34 to limit itslon y gitudinal movementsf Fittedtofthe aforementioned upper part of the rod or spindle 1"( and above/the screw-threaded part thereof is a collar 37' having a laterally projecting'bran'ch 38 which is bored out at39 said lboring having communication with the "aforesaid boring 31 by An'efaris'of a series of "pin holes 40. Disposed within thebored out'ipart 39 is a ball'41' of rubber'or other appropriate material and said'ball 41is retaiiie'd'iii placefby' a screw-plug `42`having a bore l43 andsaid screw-plugA` 41 is'closed on its outer"end bye removablescap Adapted to bey Etted on the out'erthreaded reduced -end 45 of the aforesaid rod or spindle 1T is an air gauge 4620i the Bourdon or'lile type forl indicating the "pressure within theinner tube of the tire 11; Or, a cock 47-Fig'ure S-m'ay be first thif'eaded on'the AreducedendY 45 'and then have the gauge' attached to thenipple `48` thereof;

as I have explained"construction'and mechanism "of my completeI sel'f'adjustig universal air and dust devices I will proceed to explain more in detail the use and function" of the form showrby Figure 4, said device being'intended t0 do away" with valve stems in pneumatic tires for automobiles and the like. VIt will 'be notedthat this form of device possesses Aa valve check, automatic stop,7 air gauge, dust cap, air cap, lock collar,` washer and nut all in one, which can be used in connection with the standard valve stems for vpneumatic tubes that are now on the market and it is to be here noted that I lay great importance onthe tact that the lower bell-shaped end 18 of the rod or spindle v17 is machined and internally screw-threaded so 'that yit will fit the tit of any standardfvalve stem and by virtue ot its peculiar formation is absolutely selfcentering.

NOW vit Will be dearly understood that @S the rod ors'piiidle' 17 is screwed Ju on the tit of the valvefls'tem 12 the pin valve'-34 will be brought in contactwith the little pin' that is usually inserted in ktheme/*Helpt standard pneumatic tireT valve stems and thereby torce the Same downwardly enough so that the valve is moved ori" its' seat in said stem 12.v The collar 3`5` on the: pin Kvalve 34 `will lact as aA 'stopmand l'reep the pin valve within certain limits of travel when it is pressing against the afterenden` tioned pin inthe Y'valve stein.

1n order toi'inflate tube 'or' tire vliet the device eeShW`bv1sUr 4, iS mbunted orl assembled on the lvalve stem tl/iereef theoperatoriirst rerhves they screw cap`44 thereby exposing outer partl or threaded portion of the :Streit-:tilts 42 0 which be @tagliente airhose bf @the abri-0. tief@ 'Geulle/@tief frere fi Source f if'slurlr 01k bvll b Clearly apparent that the Ordinari' tub@ "01? ififitins "Piimr may be" silelr' @Ohriected' .th-iets- Neri it"will be perfectlvfclear that the-air enterthroughf the' bore 38. piii holesilI and bore 3A1"and`ffroin theiice'be Vvforeed inte the innertube"asrequf"\ I '4 -Frein the" foregoing -description it will be'clearly apparentirthatrall that is neces-v sary when attachingq improved -airiand dust caps 'to "the valve vste'iiisY 112.' the Voper'- ator` first slides the tubular shell ori-casing 14 *overVv the 'valve' stemr12'. .The neit? oprationiis to releasef"the yscrev'ved nut2'0i'so that the rod orsfpindle '17 ybe forced on to the top eind of the! threaded titf'of the valve ste`l1n`1`2l" The operatoruthen graspsV the serrated head'piece 21 ot rthe rod and with the thumb and first lnfg'er thereof screws lthe bll"'r'od 'or spindlefl'r' downwards until"the 1bell-like portion 18 is threaded 'on to the aforesaildtit thereby ensuring an' airtight ''oint as between the valve stern" 12l and said' bell-lilgeportion 18.`

'The next Operation is to screw""dwn"the by making a dust and water-proof joint due to the insertion in said lock-nut ot the leather or similar ring 24.

ln the form of my invention shown more particularly byligure 3 it will be understood that the half turn necessary torlock the device in place will similarly result in a partial threading of the bell-like part 18 on to the tit-of the valve stem. In some instances instead of usin'g` theknurled nut 20 and screw-threaded part 19 I may simply interpose between the reduced part or neck l5 and the serrated head piece 21 a spring 49 of the nature shown by Figure 9 when it will be clearly apparent that after the connection is effected between the bell-like part 18 and` the tit of the valve stem, said spring 49 will project the tubular shell 14 into frictional and dust-proof engagement on the wheel rim.

From the foregoing description and an examination of the drawings it will be clearly apparent that by my invention I have provided an extremely simple and etlicient device for the purposes set forth, and whilst there has been shown and described various forms thereof the same are not to be too conservatively construed in that it will be apparent that changes in the shape and assembly of the several parts may be readily effected without departing from the spirit of the invention as more particularly defined by the subjoined claims.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A combined air and dust cap for pneumatic tires comprising a tubular body having an outwardly directed flange at one end, a resilient packing ring concentrically bedded in the face of said flange a neck portion at the other end of said tubular body, means movble axially in said neck portion for engagement with the tit of the tire' valve stem, said means comprising a spindle having an internally threaded bell-shaped inner end, a reduced outer end terminating in a manipulating head7 said spindle being screw-threaded for a portion of its length adjoining the reduced outer end, and a lock-nut on said screw-threaded portion whereby the device may be secured dust and damp-proof on the tire rim.

2. A combined air and dust cap for pneumatic tires comprising a tubular body having an outwardly directed flange at one end, a resilient packing ring concentrically bedded in the face of said flange, a neck portion at the other end of said tubular body? means movable axially in said neck portion for engagement with the tit of the tire valve stem, said means comprising a hollow spindle having an internally threaded Vbellshaped inner end7 a reduced outer end terminating in a manipulating head, said spindle being screw-threaded for a portion ot its length adjoining the reduced outer end,`

and a lock-nuten said screw-threaded portion' whereby the device may be secured dust and damp-prooi on the tire rim.

3i A combined air and dust cap for pneumaticftires comprising a tubular body having' an outwardly directed flange at one end,

a resilient packing ring concentrically bedded in the face of said flange, a neck portion at the other cnd of said tubular body, means movable axially in said neck portion :for engagement with the tit of the tire valve stem? said means comprising a hollow spindle having an internally threaded bellshaped inner end, a reduced outer end terminatingl in a manipulating head, said spind le being` screw-threaded for a portion of its length adjoining the reduced outer end, a lock-nut on said screw-threaded portion whereby the device may be secured dust and damp-proof on the tire rim, and means whereby an air gauge may be attached to the device tor indicating` the pressure in the l pneumatic tire.

matic tires comprising a tubular body havj ing an outwardly directed flange at one end7 a resilient packing ring concentrically bedded .in the face of said liange, a neck portion at the other end of said tubular body, means movable axially in said neck portion 'for engagement with the tit of the tire valve stem. said means comprising a hollow spindle having an internally threaded bellshaped inner end, a reduced outer end terminating in a manipulating headv` said .spindle being screw-threaded for a portion of its length adjoining the reduced outer end, a lock-nut on said screw-threaded portion whereby the device may be secured dust and damp-prootD `on the tire rim, and means whereby an air gaugeI may be attached to the device for indicating the pressure in the pneumatic tire, said means comprising a pin valve axially disposed within the aforesaid hollow spindle. i

5. A combined air and dust cap for pneumatic tires comprising a tubular body having an outwardly directed iange at one end, a resilient packing ringconcentrically bedded in the face of said flange,V a neck portion at the other end of said tubular body, a spindle having an internally threaded bellshaped inner end for engagement with the tit of the valve stem, said spindle being provided with a reduced outer end terminating in a manipulating head, and a lock-nut having threaded engagement on the aforesaid spindle whereby the tubular body may be forced into damp and dust-proof engage-l bell-shaped end has been engaged on the valve stem tit. i

6. A self-adjusting universal air and dust cap for pneumatic tires comprising a tubular body havingr an outwardly directed flange at one end, a resilient packing ring concentrically bedded in the face of said ange, a neck portion at the other end of said tubular body, means movable axially in said neck portion for engagement with the tit of the tire valve stem, said means comprising a hollow spindle having an internally threaded bell-shaped inner end, a reduced outer end terminating in a manipulating l5 head, said spindle being screw-threaded for a portion of its length adjoining the reduced outer end, a lock-nut on said screw-threaded portion whereby the device may be secured dust and damp-proof on the tire rim, means for depressing the tire valve when an air gauge is attached to the device for indicating the pressure in the pneumatic tire, said means comprising a pin valve axially disposed within the aforesaid hollow spindle, and means whereby an air gauge may be connected to the outer end of said hollow spindle. n

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

ALVA K. HINCHMAN. 

